Labor clings to lead in latest Newspoll

Labor has maintained a four-point lead over the coalition on a two-party preferred basis as the federal election campaign enters its final days, the latest Newspoll shows.

The poll, published in The Australian newspaper on Monday, found Labor has held a 52 to 48 per cent lead over the coalition since last week's poll.

Despite peaks and troughs in between, the poll also shows support for Labor has risen markedly since late July, just before Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
took the Labor leadership from Kevin Rudd.

Then, Labor was behind the coalition, with 35 per cent support to the coalition's 47.

There was also little difference in primary votes from last week, according to the poll, with Labor steady on 38 per cent, the coalition down one point to 41 per cent and The Greens up one point to 14 per cent.

The approval ratings for Ms Gillard and Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott
have also improved slightly.

The number of voters satisfied with Ms Gillard's performance has risen one point to 44 per cent and her disapproval is down three points to 38 per cent.

Forty-three per cent of those polled were satisfied with Mr Abbott's performance (up two points) and 46 per cent were dissatisfied (down three points).